Castelló de Rugat sits on the southern rim of the Vall d'Albaida, a broad valley in the south of Valencia province hemmed in by mountain ridges. On one side rises the long saw-toothed crest of the Benicadell, on the other the Serra de la Solana, and between them lies a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves and small towns with church towers. The Barranc de les Coves, the ravine of the caves, cuts into the slopes near Castelló de Rugat, Ràfol de Salem and Beniarrés, and its first shelter holds painted figures.
This ravine is part of the dense cluster of rock art sites around the Benicadell, where the mountains of the Comtat and the Vall d'Albaida meet. The paintings here, like those in neighbouring ravines, include the lively Levantine style as well as schematic marks, and they sit within the UNESCO inscription that covers more than seven hundred sites along Spain's Mediterranean side. Some panels are protected behind bars and best visited with a guide; the ravine itself, with its pines, cliffs and seasonal stream, is a pleasant place to walk.
Riding in the Vall d'Albaida is a real pleasure. The CV roads that cross the valley and climb over the passes to the Comtat are well surfaced and wind their way through vineyards and woods, with the Benicadell always looming. The pass between Beniarrés and Salem, or the road over to Muro, have lovely sequences of bends. The reservoir at Beniarrés, a stretch of turquoise water, makes a fine viewpoint. Traffic is light, but watch out for agricultural vehicles and the occasional cyclist group.
Castelló de Rugat is a small town with a bar, a bakery and a church, and it is known in the region for textile workshops. For fuel and more choice, Muro de Alcoy is around ten kilometres away, and Ontinyent and Albaida, the valley's main towns, are within easy reach. The area produces wine and olive oil, and local bakeries sell coca, a flat Valencian pastry, savoury or sweet. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers, and autumn offers harvest colours and mild weather.